Nearly 70% of Canadians have experienced a traumatic event in their life.
Trauma is defined as a deeply disturbing event or experience, such as a death, illness, or anything life-threatening that changes a person’s life. While many people experience trauma, not everyone reaches out for help.
If you think you might be struggling with this life-altering event, here’s five things to know about trauma for Edmonton residents.
1. Trauma Can Occur Anytime to Anyone
You might think that trauma happens only to children or younger people, but the truth is a traumatic event can happen to anyone at any time. While at least two-thirds of children are affected by trauma, traumatizing experiences can happen to adults as well.
2. Trauma Impacts Every Part of Your Life
While trauma might be a one-time experience, it can directly influence your entire life: your job performance, relationships with both acquaintances and familial, school, and so forth.
Trauma might manifest through behaviours like skipping work or school, mood swings, nightmares, fear, and more. You might also experience insomnia, panic attacks, or inability to concentrate and all of these things can cause distress in your life.
3. It Can Lead to PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD develops after a traumatic event if trauma is left untreated. It differs from trauma in that the individual experiences flashbacks. It’s also more long-term, meaning that trauma is still very present.
It’s critical to receive treatment from a professional like at Gary J. Meiers, Ph.D., Jo Ann Hammond-Meiers, Ph.D. and Associates Ltd. Take control of your trauma before it becomes worse.
For children, it’s incredibly important that they get treatment as soon as possible. Without it, the child will have difficulty managing their emotions and basic life demands. Finding a children’s therapist that specializes in trauma is the best route.
PTSD can be misdiagnosed, so it’s important to have a true diagnosis of trauma with trained specialists.
4. It Changes Your Brain
Did you know that trauma can actually change your brain? In growing children, brain development is vital, and when a traumatic event happens, this harms brain development. Areas of the brain like the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus are all affected, as well as hindrances to the memory.
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which controls emotional regulation, is also affected, meaning that people can experience more negative emotions.
5. It’s Not Hopeless
Unfortunately. there is no cure-all for trauma. But that doesn’t mean treating trauma is hopeless.
There are therapies dedicated to helping those affected by traumatic events. Trained, professionals and educated psychologists can help diagnose and walk you through the steps of healing from trauma.
Taking the steps toward healing is a brave and powerful choice and one that will continue to aid you throughout your life.
Because everyone’s traumatic experience is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to trauma. One person’s therapy might be very different from another.
Trauma in Edmonton: Help for You
There are ways to help manage the after-effects of trauma. Are you searching for trauma treatment in Edmonton? Our psychologists can help. Contact our office today for more information.
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